On Wednesday, September 27th, Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House panel on Africa, will be holding a hearing to investigate democracy and human rights in Rwanda. Testifying at the hearing will be a State Department official as well as notable experts on the African country.
“Rwanda has been a valuable contributor to peacekeeping in Africa and is the sixth largest troop and police contributor to United Nations missions,” said Smith, who has held four hearings on Rwanda. “However, questions have increased about the status of human rights and rule of law inside Rwanda and its efforts to silence critics living abroad. This hearing will examine the future of democracy and rule of law in Rwanda in light of persistent criticism of its government’s behavior at home and on the international stage.”
Who:
Chairman Smith (NJ-04), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations; other members of the Committee
Witness:
Panel I
The Honorable Donald Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Panel II
Mr. David Himbara
Coordinator for Canada
Democracy in Rwanda Now
Major Robert Higiro, Rwanda Defense Force, Retired
Coordinator for the United States
Democracy in Rwanda Now
Mr. Mike Jobbins
Manager
Africa Programs
Search for Common Ground
Mr. Adotei Akwei
Managing Director
Government Relations
Amnesty International United States
What:
House hearing on democracy in Rwanda
When:
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 3:00 PM
Where:
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200 (second floor)
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